Educational map game



March 29, 1966 J. H. ADAMS EDUCATIONAL MAP GAME Filed Sept. 10, 1965 C E B E U Q 62a. augezc STALINGRAD NOM E EAIRBANKS PORTLAND MONROVIA INVENTOR. J. H. ADAMS United States Patent 3,242,591 EDUCATIONAL MAP GAME Joseph H. Adams, 602 Brinley Ave., Bradley Beach, NJ. Filed Sept. 10, 1963, Ser. No. 307,929 9 Claims. (Cl. 359) This invention relates to games and more particularly to aEtme of the type wherein answers to problems are caused to appear for vertification of answers provided by the players.

It is an object of the invention to provide an educational game device of exceedingly simple and economical structure and one which is readily adapted to mass production in large volume.

It is another object of the invention to provide an educational game wherein the physical elements are simple and readily fabricated as well as being adapted for very rapid assembly by unskilled labor.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a game device wherein a mere change in printing on certain elements can eifect various types of games, the physical components being identical as to all such games.

It is an even further object of the invention to provide a game device which will be attractive in appearance, compact in structure, rugged, and will withstand carton packing in quantity for shipment, without damage.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a game device which furnishes interesting and constructive play and wherein players may apply their knowledge of particular subject matter, such as geography, arithmetic, etc., to be tested as to such knowledge, while at the same time being taught by the device as to the correct answers where the player fails to provide the correct answers.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the description which follows:

Briefly, the game comprises a box which may be of corrugated board and standard die cut construction having a large cutout area on one face. The panel cutout of such area is retained as a removable insert therein to act as a protective cover for a sheet of translucent plastic fastened around the periphery of the cutout aperture at the underside. Such sheet of plastic is printed with notation characteristic of a particular game, for example, a map. Within the box is a slidable element, such as a lift panel of corrugated board coacting with sloping cam components and having a pull tab extending outside the box, such that when the tab is pushed toward the box, the lift panel drops sufliciently below the translucent sheet so that identifying names printed on an answer panel carried on the lift panel become invisible. However, upon pulling the tab outwardly of the box, the lift panel is raised to bring the answer panel into contiguity with the translucent sheet so that names of cities, etc., are visible through the translucent sheet. A game is played by using markers and selection cards, such that a player selects the card with a city name face down from a stack of such cards and then places the marker on the translucent sheet where he thinks the city is located. Subsequently, the tab is pulled to reveal whether or not his answer is correct.

For a detailed description, reference is made to the appended drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of the box and externally appearing parts;

FIG. 2 is a section through 2-2 of FIG. 1 shown as an exploded view in order to include the protective cutout panel in its relationship to the box;

FIG. 3 is the section through 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective of the end of the box, showing the protective panel in place;

FIG. 5 is a section through 55 of FIG. 1;

Patented Mar. 29, 1966 FIG. 6 is a plan view of the lift panel;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of one of the selection cards; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a marker which may be used with the game.

Referring now to the drawing, a box or corrugated die cut carton 10 is used as the chief physical component, and it is provided with a large cutout aperture 15, the removed portion 18 of which is utilized to serve as a protective sheet, and it may also be printed with game instructions, advertising, etc. Thus, the aperture 15 has secured around its periphery as by eyelets or rivets 20 a translucent plastic sheet 22, framed by the borders of the cutout and the cutout panel 18 may rest on the plastic sheet, as generally illustrated in FIG. 4, to protect it when the game is not in play or in the course of shipment, etc. A notch 25 may be cut out in the end of the panel 18 to facilitate lifting away from the plastic sheet. As will be noted in FIG. 1, the plastic sheet is printed in this instance with a map of the world and it may have secured thereon rotative arrow elements, such as 28, which can be manually set for indicating scores of the players on suitably provided printed indicia circles. The land areas designated on the map are not provided with any clues.

Dots 32, shown in the phantom rectangle of FIG. 1, indicate city locations and names are printed alongside. This is to illustrate the function of the printed answer panel or card 36 of thin cardboard or heavy paper on which the city identification and corresponding dots are printed. Thus, when the panel 36 is below the trans lucent sheet a sufficient distance, for example, the distance S as shown in FIG. 3, none of the cities on the map is identified. However, if the panel 36 be raised to meet the bottom surface of the translucent sheet, the printing on the card is readily discernible below the entire plastic sheet, as illustrated by the fragmentary portion within the exemplary phantom line rectangle. Thus, it will be understood that all cties are identified if panel 36 be raised, but no cities are identified if it be in lower position.

In order to provide a simple and economical means of raising the panel 36, a relatively heavier cardboard or corrugated board panel 40 is utilized, having a rectangular notch 43 provided at each front corner and also having at its center portions side notches 46, and being provided with an extending tongue 50 to which may be secured a wooden handle 53. The side notching 48 of panel 40, as seen in FIG. 5, registers with the notching of panel 36 when the panels are superimposed, with panel 36 on panel 40.

Panel 36 is somewhat longer than panel 40 so that at its right end, the notches 48 are closed by the additional material designated as 58 in order to provide space for printing the identification of cities beyond the extent of the lifting panel 40.

Each side of the box is provided with a light bent metal strip 62 formed with sloping legs such as 6242 and 62b as clearly seen in FIG. 2, which legs fit into the side notching of the elements 36 and 40. The legs converge towards each other in rising upwardly from the bottom support portions such as 620 and have upper horizontal frustrum portions 62d between adjacent pairs of legs 62a and 62b, as well as a center horizontal support shelf section 62s at a lower level. Normally the panels 36 and 40 rest on the shelf portions 62e on each side of the box and the printing on panel 36 cannot be read. When, however, the handle 53 is pulled, the lift panel 40 rides upwardly on the sloping legs 62a which serve as cams, to bring the printed panel 36 up through distance S (FIG. 2) and closely below or in contiguity with the translucent sheet, making the printing visible. Pushing handle 53 inwardly produces the reverse action, the panels dropping panel 36 has a length with respect to the box length such that, if desired, it can be pulled a half inch or so to bring the corner portions 70 on to horizontal portions 62d to an extent which will support the panels. The resiliency of the metal strips is sufficient to permit this, the panels actually being then wedged between the strips and the side margins of aperture 15.

The end of the box has the usual tuck-in flap 72 slotted so that the tongue 50 can emerge therefrom to move inwardly or outwardly while resting on the horizontal edge of the slot to balance the support of the lift panel 40.

It will be appreciated that the identification of the cities could be printed directly on the lift panel 40, but this would require precise positioning at the end of its horizontal travel to ensure the printed matter being accurately in register with the map. However, by providing suitable fixed stops at the forward margin of the aperture against which the lift panel abutted, the lift panel could also serve as the printed panel.

The game is played in a simple manner, for example, a set of cards as shown in FIG. '7, with cities printed on them, are placed face down and a player takes a card and notes the city name thereon. He then places a marker such as a translucent disc as shown in FIG. 8 on the map so that the high score rests at the point where he thinks thecity is located. Then handle 53 is pulled and panel 40 rises to reveal true locations. The player gets a score of 5, 3, or 1, depending on whether or not the dot signifying the city falls in the particular scoring ring. The dials 28 can be used to record accumulating scores.

Obviously, any type of question-answer game can be devised with the physical components. For example, if the cards were printed with arithmetic problems, the panel 36 would be printed with an answer selection.

Having thus described the invention, it is realized that changes may be made without departing from the spirit thereof and therefore it is not desired that the invention be limited to the precise illustration herein given except as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A game comprising box means having a translucent wall panel with game indicia thereon, a movable panel means in said box means having game indicia thereon to be moved into visible correlation with said first-mentioned indicia; actuating means for moving said movable panel means towards or away from said translucent panel, the indicia on said movable panel means being illegible through said translucent panel until said movable panel means is in close proximity thereto, said movable panel means comprising a lift panel and an indicia panel supported thereon and having said secondmentioned game indicia, said indicia panel having substantally the length and width dimensions of the inside of said box so as to be restrained to translational movement perpendicularly towards and away from said translucent panel; said lift panel being movable edgewise and means coacting therewith upon edgewise movement to move it simultaneously toward said translucent panel for bringing said indicia panel into proximity thereto.

2. A game comprising box means having a translucent wall panel with game indicia thereon, a movable panel means in said box means having game indicia thereon to be moved into visible correlation with said first-mentioned indicia; actuating means for moving said movable panel means towards or away from said translucent panel,

means comprising a lift panel and an indicia panel carried thereon on which indicia panel said second-mentioned game indicia is carried and said indicia panel being of substantially the inside dimension of said box means so as to be restrained from edgewise movement therein, and support means for said lift panel having sloped elements engageable with said lift panel, said lift panel being movable edgewise so as to be moved by said sloping elements toward said translucent panel to carry said indicia panel into close proximity thereto.

3. A game comprising box means having a translucent wall panel with game indicia thereon, a movable panel means in said box means having game indicia thereon to be moved into visible correlation with said first-mentioned indicia; actuating means for moving said movable panel means towards or away from said translucent panel, the indicia on said movable panel means being illegible through said translucent panel until said movable panel means is in close proximity thereto, said movable panel means comprising a lift panel and an indicia panel carried thereon on which indicia panel said secondmentioned game indicia is carried and said indicia panel being of substantially the inside dimension of said box means so as to be restrained from edgewise movement therein, and support means for said lift panel having sloped elements engageable with said lift panel, said lift panel being movable edgewise so as to be moved by said sloping elements toward said translucent panel to carry said indicia panel into close proximity thereto, said support means comprising a continuous metal strip on each side of said box bent to effect said sloped elements and each strip having a portion intermediate said sloped elements to support said movable panel means at a spacing from said translucent panel whereat the indicia on said indicia panel is illegible through said translucent panel.

4. A game comprising box means having a translucent wall panel with game indicia thereon, a movable panel means in said box means having game indicia thereon to be moved into Visible correlation with said first-mentioned indicia; actuating means for moving said movable panel means towards or away from said translucent panel, the indicia on said movable panel means being illegible through said translucent panel until said movable panel means is in close proximity thereto, said movable panel means comprising a lift panel and an indicia panel supported thereon and having said secondmentioned game indicia, said indicia panel having substantially the length and width dimensions of the inside of said box so as to be restrained to translational movement perpendicularly towards and away from said translucent panel; said lift panel being movable edgewise and means coacting therewith upon edgewise movement thereof to move it simultaneously with said indicia panel toward said translucent panel for bringing said indicia panel into proximity thereto, said support means comprising a continuous metal strip on each side of said box bent to effect said sloped elements and each having a portion intermediate said sloped elements to support said movable panel means at a spacing from said translucent panel whereat the indicia on said indicia panel is illegible through said translucent panel.

5. A game comprising box means having a translucent wall panel with game indicia thereon, a movable panel means in said box means having game indicia thereon to be moved into visible correlation with said first-mentioned indicia; actuating means for moving said movable panel towards or away from said translucent panel, the indicia on said movable panel means being illegible through said translucent panel until said movable panel means is in close proximity thereto, said movable panel means comprising a lift panel and an indicia panel carried thereon on which indicia panel said secondmentioned game indicia is carried and said indicia panel being of substantially the inside dimension of said box means so "as to be restrained from edgewise movement therein, and support means for said lift panel having sloped elements engageable with said lift panel, said lift panel being movable edgewise so as to be moved by said sloping elements toward said translucent panel to carry said indicia panel into close proximity thereto, said box having an end slot effecting a support edge, said lift panel having a tongue extending through said slot so as to be accessible to be grasped for pulling s-aid lift panel to effect riding engagement of said lift panel with said sloped elements, and support means associated with said sloped elements within said box means having a surf-ace generally coplanar with said edge of said slot for supporting said movable panel means spacedly from said translucent panel, said tongue resting on said edge.

6. A game comprising box means having a translucent wall panel with game indicia thereon, a movable panel means in said box means having game indicia thereon to be moved into visible correlation with said first-mentioned indicia; actuating means "for moving said movable panel means towards or away from said translucent panel, the indicia on said movable panel means being illegible through said translucent panel until said movable panel means is in close proximity thereto, said movable panel means comprising a lift panel and an indicia panel carried thereon on which indicia panel said second-mentioned game indicia is carried and said indicia panel being of substantially the inside dimension of said box means so as to be restrained from edgewise movement therein, and support means for said lift panel having sloped elements engageable with said lift panel, said lift panel being movable edgewise so as to be moved by said sloping elements toward said translucent panel to carry said indicia panel into close proximity thereto, said lift panel having notches effecting edges transverse to the path of edgewise movement of said lift panel wherein said edges engage said sloped elements to effect movement of said lift panel toward said translucent panel.

7. A game as set forth in claim 6, said indicia panel having notches generally in register with the notches of said lift panel when said lift panel is spaced from said translucent panel, said indicia panel having relative sliding motion on said lift panel.

8. A game comprising box means having a translucent wall panel with game indicia thereon, a movable panel means in said box means having game indicia thereon to be moved into visible correlation with said first-mentioned indicia; actuating means for moving said movable panel means towards or away from said translucent panel, the indicia on said movable panel means being illegible through said translucent pasel until said movable panel means is in close proximity thereto, said actuating means comprising cam elements engageable with said movable panel upon movement thereof to cause said.

movable panel to move into said close proximity to said translucent panel.

9. A game comprising box means having a translucent wall panel with game indicia thereon, a movable panel means in said box means having game indicia thereon to be moved into visible correlation with said first-mentioned indicia; actuating means for moving said movable panel means towards or away from said translucent panel, the indicia on said movable panel means being illegible through said translucent panel until said movable panel means is in close proximity thereto, said box means comprising a folded carton having a tuck-in flap at an end thereof, a slot in said flap, said movable panel means having a tongue extending through said slot accessible to be grasped for pulling said panel means to effect legibility through said translucent panel, support means for said movable panel whereby said movable panel is moved edgewise by said tongue and cam means engageable by said movable panel operative to move said movable panel towards said translucent panel while moving edgewise.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 718,305 l/1903 Blanchard 40-137 X 1,113,610 10/1914 Gillrnore 40106.54 2,222,245 9/1940 Steen 4078 X FOREIGN PATENTS 108/26 1/1926 Australia. 722,821 1/1932 France.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. JEROME SCHNALL, Examiner.

WENCELSO J. CONTRERAS, HERBERT F. ROSS,

Assistant Examiners. 

8. A GAME COMPRISING BOX MEANS HAVING A TRANSLUCENT WALL PANEL WITH GAME INDICIA THEREON, A MOVABLE PANEL MEANS IN SAID BOX MEANS HAVING GAME INDICIA THEREON TO BE MOVED INTO VISIBLE CORRELATION WITH SAID FIRST-MENTIONED INDICIA; ACTUATING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID MOVABLE PANEL MEANS TOWARDS OR AWAY FROM SAID TRANSLUCENT PANEL, THE INDICIA ON SAID MOVABLE PANEL MEANS BEING ILLEGIBLE THROUGH SAID TRANSLUCENT PASEL UNTIL SAID MOVABLE PANEL MEANS IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY THERETO, SAID ACTUATING MEANS COMPRISING CAM ELEMENTS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID MOVABLE PANEL UPON MOVEMENT THEREOF TO CAUSE SAID MOVABLE PANEL TO MOVE INTO SAID CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SAID TRANSLUCENT PANEL. 